"You Can Do It"! I still remember those loud words yelled out years ago to me, which I have never forgot the impact it had on me. We were at a church picnic. And part of the activities was a ladies softball game. I hated sports and was never good at it. But my motto in life that I have tried to live by is "take part and be supportive," even at a picnic softball game.

I was not bad at batting. I could hit a few out with my left hand swing. It was catching and throwing the ball that was my downfall. If I threw the ball it seemed to just drop in front of me. So I hated the outfield!

Well it was time for our team to go to the outfield. The sport that I am, I grabbed the glove and took my position as far out into the field as I could get. Glove in hand, and with much praying going on, asking God to "please dont let that ball come in my direction".

I thought I was safe, because I went out into the field as far as I could go. No one will hit the ball out here I told myself. Well the unthinkable happened! I could hear the bat crack the ball and to my surprise it was headed in my direction, whizzing past the other outfielders. All I could do was too open up my glove and hope for the best. Then all of a sudden, I heard this loud voice in the background saying, "you can do it!. Those words gave me the courage to reach out and catch that ball. I never forgot that experience.

The power of encouragement can never be underestimated in the lives of each other. We all need it and we all need to give it in order to make it in this life. It is easy to find fault with one another but, to be an encourager is closer to the spirit of Christ than words of judgment.

G. K. Chesterton, an English journalist, once wrote, "The really great person is the person who makes every person feel great."

In Matthew 25 it says: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. . . Truly I tell you, just as you did it to the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:35-40)

"Words are so very powerful, and we never know what state of mind someone is in at any time. You choose your words, but you cannot choose the affect they will have on people. Always speak out of love. True power does not crush others, but helps them to see their own greatness" (Quote from Doe Zantamata)

The greatest achievers all had encouragers somewhere along the line to help them and to encourage them on.

I strongly recommend the book How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Don Clifford. The book is based on the theory that we all have invisible buckets emotionally, which needs to be filled. Our buckets is constantly emptied or filled, depending on what others say or do to us. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it's empty, we feel awful. Great book!

One of the greatest services you can give in the church, community, or work, is to be an encourager. Encourage a fellow worker, a spouse, a child, or a church member. God commands us to do it! Hebrews 10:24 says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says to, "encourage one another and build each other up." It doesn't take much time but the results can be amazing!